Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Dead Inside

Last week, I wrote a blog post about this blog and mentioned that I don't do personal posts. But I for whatever reason, I'm waiving that tonight to talk about what happened early this morning: Donald Trump winning the election. I was at the polls at 6am, excited to vote for a woman I had admired for my whole life, since I was a poor kid on Hillary's free health care for children, which she got a lot of shit for. It wasn't what a first lady did, people said. They literally argued against giving children health care.

I'd supported Bernie during the primaries, but he lost, and Hillary was my close second. I voted and went to work, wearing white in solidarity with the suffragists, and my thoughts were of the women who were voting who had lived during a time when women were not allowed to vote. I wouldn't be surprised if those women dropped dead the second they learned pussy-grabbing Trump had won.

the image that will haunt me forever, when I thought for sure Hillary was going to win. Proud to have voted.

New York City is progressive. 90% of people voted for Hillary. Donald was booed the whole time he was voting for himself. EVERYBODY HATES him. Donald Trump himself didn't think he was going to win. I work nearby his home at the Trump Tower, so I stopped by for shits and giggles:

Yes, Donald, America looks like a third-world country when you live in a literal gold tower.

The mood was festive at the office, and we all thought for sure he was going to lose. This is in an area where 9 out of 10 people despise Trump. I didn't cancel my evening gaming plans. I walked through Rockefeller Center, which was festive with lights and flags and big TV screens and the big ice skating rink.

But we didn't play any roleplaying games at the cafe. Trump was fucking winning. One of them was a scientist and said the absolute worse thing for science if if Trump was elected. For most of the night, we just watched in horror. For my readers overseas who aren't aware, this is the man who would jail his political opponents, who said he'd end all of Obama's executive orders, providing health care and income-based loan repayments. I'm most afraid for the end of his PAYE (pay as you earn) plan. Those of you overseas who have free education would be shocked to learn that without the plan, I'd be paying double my rent on student loan payments. And I can barely afford my rent as is. The housing crisis in NYC wasn't helped, btw, by men like Trump himself. Trump has lied about everything, so I hope he will not actually end all of those executive orders. Contrast this with Hillary's plan to give free education, which the rest of the world already fucking has.

He doesn't believe in equal pay for equal work, wants to get rid of the minimum wage. He's a sexual assaulter. And something like half of the women in the US voted for him.

The candidate that was endorsed by the KKK also got more black votes than the previous Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney.

In the past year or so, corporate greed and political corruption met at the apex at Flint, Michigan, where the residents were drinking lead-tainted water from a polluted river. The people were literally being poisoned. With lead. The water was brown, disgusting, but the politicians said it was fine to drink. Finally the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came to save the day and the whole thing was exposed. Would it shock you to know that 42% of those in the county of Flint voted for the man who promises to get rid of the EPA?

Today in the office, we didn't get any work done. People worried and watched the news. People wept. There was a dumb meme that was being shared about how 11/9 was the new 9/11. It's a dumb meme, but there are a lot of parallelisms between that day and today. We all felt lost and scared and as if the world is a completely different place than it was yesterday. Well, see you next week unless I'm in political prison.

Honestly, I was absolutely sure he'd lose, so I haven't even given it a second thought...but this is horrible. I know it might sound weird, but I'm disappointed in America right now...I live in a small and insignificant European country, but I'm scared for you guys and the rest of the world...Just how could he be elected?

I'm disappointed in us too. Apparently we are crazy hillbillies. To be fair, Hillary got more votes, so there are more progressives than conservatives, but unfortunately that doesn't determine who wins. But still half the country chose hate. I'm scared as well.

I was shocked as well. Everyone thought Trump was a joke, he couldn't possibly win right? I cannot say Hillary was a better choice sadly, but as a person living overseas I am ashamed that such an influential country as America is being represented by such a horrible man. I love America and American culture, I grew up on it, America always brought me hope and life. It's scary to know that the majority of people have actually voted for Trump.On the other hand, I feel that people want change, and it looks like they want to get in in any way possible. What freaks me out is that when Trump's in charge, he can put a republican head judge in the supreme court, and you'll have a republican system. It's scary as hell, I really wish everything will be ok.

Long time reader, first time commenter here! I work in the theatre industry and I am hearing a lot of the same fear and hopelessness you all express here. My heart goes out to all of you who are afraid for your jobs, financial security, peace of mind, or even physical safety because of this election and changes that might come. However I'm not really sure why there is so much disbelief that he was elected. There is also a great deal of fear I heard coming from my conservative/republican friends about the long-term consequences to industry, national safety, freedom of speech, etc if Mrs. Clinton was elected. Be assured, as frightened as many of you are now there are just as many people who were frightened at the thought of what the other option could mean. Here are two really helpful articles which somewhat explained to me that perspective. http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about_p2/

Please realize that, although there certainly are those who voted one way or another for purely vindictive reasons, the vast majority of Americans voted the way they did because they were doing what they thought was best for them, their friends, family, and the culture they hold dear.

Hi there from another long-time reader and first time commenter, who lives and works in the Flint area. Wednesday morning was awful, but having to hear my students ask why he was elected was much worse. It's hard to explain that though they matter to me, my thoughts and political stance are not shared throughout their community. It's hard to explain that to a number of people in this country, popularity and wealth are more important than their (my students') lives. It's hard to watch them come to rehearsal with plastic water bottles and ask what "White America's" president is going to do to help. Having just heard the news of Betsy DeVos being brought on as Education Secretary, I don't know how I'm going to explain to them that their education is now in jeopardy. From a city that still doesn't have clean water, please know that those who voted for Trump are not representative of this place, and he is NOT our president.

Thanks for writing and thanks for caring for your students. It's terrible how the rest of Michigan turned its back on Flint in this election and made the state red. I still can't believe so many people voted for him in your county. Fingers crossed for you and all of us.